Transcatheter coronary sinus mitral valve annuloplasty procedure and coronary artery and myocardial protection device

ABSTRACT

A protective device or bridge comprising a central arch is suitable to be placed between an annuplasty device placed in the coronary sinus and an underlying coronary artery to inhibit transmission of compressive force on the coronary artery by the annuplasty device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/514,990, filed May 14, 2009, which is the U.S. National Stageapplication of PCT/US2007/023876, filed Nov. 13, 2007, which in turnclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/858,716 filedNov. 14, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/932,611 filed May31, 2007, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to annuloplasty techniques and devices inwhich tensioning elements are placed in the coronary sinus to performmitral valve annuloplasty and treat mitral valve regurgitation.

BACKGROUND

Mitral valve regurgitation is a common cardiac valve disorder that canbe caused by a primary valvular problem (such as damaged valve leaflets)or functional problems that impair leaflet coaption. A common cause offunctional mitral valve regurgitation is dilated cardiomyopathy causedby myocardial infarction, chronic myocardial ischemia, hypertension,myocarditis, or other causes of heart muscle injury. Enlargement of themitral annulus and left ventricular cavity produce mitral valvularinsufficiency that can cause volume overload that further exacerbatesthe underlying myopathy and worsens the valvular insufficiency. Mitralvalve repair can reduce mitral regurgitation and correct secondarymitral annular dilation to thereby improve mitral valve leafletcoaption. One such repair technique is an annuloplasty procedure, inwhich the annulus of the valve is surgically reconstructed or augmentedby placement of a ring around the valve annulus to reduce itscircumferential and septal-lateral dimensions. In patients withcongestive heart failure and secondary mitral regurgitation,annuloplasty can provide a long-term symptomatic and survival benefit

Traditional mitral valve annuloplasty requires open heart surgery with asternotomy or thoracotomy and cardiac arrest and cardio-pulmonarybypass. For example, the annuloplasty procedure is performed through asurgical incision in which the effective size of the valve annulus isreduced by attaching a prosthetic annuloplasty ring to the left atrialaspect of the mitral valve annulus. A variety of rigid and flexibleannuloplasty rings have been developed for this purpose, such as thoseshown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,917,698; 5,041,130; 5,061,277; 5,064,431;5,104,407; 5,201,880; and 5,350,420. Although very effective, thisopen-heart procedure is accompanied by substantial morbidity andprolonged convalescence. As a result, the procedure often is not offeredto patients who are insufficiently symptomatic to justify the surgicalrisk and morbidity, or to patients who suffer advanced disease, or topatients with substantial co-morbidity.

Percutaneous approaches to mitral valve repair have been developed toreduce the clinical disadvantages of the open-heart procedures. In somepercutaneous technique, a prosthesis is advanced in a catheter throughthe subject's vasculature to the vicinity of the mitral valve. Thesepercutaneous techniques are attractive alternatives to conventionalsurgical treatment because they do not require open heart surgery orextracorporeal circulation, and can be used in a closed and beatingheart. The treatment is potentially less morbid and can be applied to awider range of patients including those with less severe valvulardysfunction.

Examples of percutaneous mitral valve repair procedures includecoronary-sinus shortening devices, transcameral fixtures,endoventricular annular plication, and direct leaflet stapling. Coronarysinus annuloplasty techniques have been disclosed, for example, in U.S.Pat. Nos. 6,402,781 and 7,090,695 as well as U.S. Patent PublicationNos. 2004/0254600; 2005/0027351; and 2007/0073391. Some trans-sinusapproaches aim to improve mitral valve coaptation by introducing aprosthesis into the coronary sinus to exert forces that reduce thecircumference of the posterior mitral annulus or move the posteriorannulus toward the anterior leaflet. Coronary sinus methods takeadvantage of the proximity of the coronary sinus to the mitral valveannulus, such that the pressure of the prosthesis in the coronary sinuspushes the fibrous annulus or the nearby atrial wall inward to reducethe diameter of the annulus.

However, these techniques have shown only limited success inestablishing circumferential tension that characterizes effectivesurgical ring annuloplasty. The sinus-shortening devices have inducedonly local shortening across the mitral commissures but do notadequately reduce the septal-lateral separation that characterizesfunctional mitral valve regurgitation. The leaflet procedures have notbeen able to reduce annular dilation and they can also impair the normaldynamic line of mitral valve coaption that accommodates a range ofvolumes and inotropic states.

A more recent improvement of percutaneous annuloplasty is coronary sinustranscatheter-mitral-valve cerclage annuloplasty in which a tensioningmaterial is placed around the mitral valve annulus using a catheter,such as a steerable guide wire or canalization catheter. Certaincerclage trajectories can compensate for coronary sinus anatomy that isremote from the mitral valve annulus, by rotating the plane ofcircumferential tension toward the left ventricular outflow tract. Incerclage, a continuous strand of tensioning material (such as suturematerial) is applied along a pathway that extends at least partiallythrough the coronary sinus and then reenters the right side of theheart, for example by passing through a basal septal perforator vein andpenetrating a small distance through septal myocardium. The tensioningmaterial is placed with the assistance of imaging technologies that mayinclude X-ray fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, intracavitary orexternal ultrasound, electroanatomic mapping, X-ray computed tomographyor a combination (fusion) of any of these imaging technologies.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Trans-sinus approaches that use the cerclage technique or otherindwelling coronary sinus prostheses can have limiting drawbacks,however, because the coronary sinus and its branches have now been foundto cross the outer diameter of major coronary arteries in a majority ofhumans. As a result, pressure applied by any prosthetic device in thecoronary sinus (such as tension on the annuloplasty device) can compressthe underlying coronary artery and induce myocardial ischemia orinfarction. In particular, the coronary sinus usually extendssuperficial to the circumflex coronary artery and its marginal branchesnear the great cardiac vein, and trans-sinus annuloplasty transmitspressure sufficient to constrict or occlude the underlying coronaryartery. Whether coronary obstruction occurs during coronary sinusannuloplasty depends on the spatial relationship between the coronaryartery and vein. In a majority of humans, the coronary vein crosses overthe left circumflex artery, which has limited the usefulness of coronarysinus annuloplasty. Given the foregoing, there is a need for methodsthat avoid constricting coronary artery branches during trans-sinusannuloplasty.

Devices and methods are described herein for protecting underlyingmyocardial structures such as myocardial tissue or coronary arterybranches from constriction during trans-sinus mitral annuloplasty. Thedevice can protect a coronary vessel from compression during mitralannuloplasty in which an annuloplasty element, such as a tensioningdevice, extends at least partially through the coronary sinus over acoronary artery. The device is a surgically sterile bridge configuredfor placement within the coronary sinus at a location where the coronarysinus passes over a coronary artery, so that the protection deviceprovides a support for a mitral annuloplasty element, such as acompressive prosthesis, including a tension element when it is placedunder tension. The protection device has an arch of sufficient rigidityand dimensions to support the tensioning element over the coronaryartery, redistribute tension away from an underlying coronary artery,and inhibit application of pressure to the underlying artery, forexample when an annuloplasty tension element is placed under tensionduring mitral annuloplasty.

In particular embodiments, the protective device is a support interposedin the coronary sinus between the annuloplasty device and the coronaryartery. In one disclosed example, the protective device has guides on itthat retain the annuloplasty device on the support. Such a guide cantake the form of an internal lumen that extends the length of thesupport and through which a mitral annuloplasty tension element canextend so that the protective device supports the tension element awayfrom the coronary artery. The device may be substantially tubular sothat the tensioning element is contained within the protective deviceand supported in spaced relationship to the coronary artery. The archmay be configured to extend between a proximal end and a distal end thatare substantially collinear with one another so that the ends formstabilizing members such as feet that retain the bridge in position overthe coronary artery.

In particularly advantageous examples, the central arch bridges a lineardistance at its base of from about 0.5 inches to about 0.6 inches, forexample about 0.52 inches to about 0.55 inches, such as about 0.536inches. In disclosed examples the central arch is from about 0.15 inchesto about 0.16 inches high, for example about 0.1545 inches high, and thebridge has an outer diameter that is from about 0.04 to about 0.05inches (for example 0.045 inches) along its entire length, and an innerdiameter that is from about 0.025 inches to about 0.035 inches (forexample 0.030 inches) along its entire length. In other examples, theprotective device is made of a shape memory material, such as nitinol.

The device may be used in methods of improving the function of a mitralvalve in a subject in which an annuloplasty element, for example anelement that exerts compressive remodeling forces on the mitral valve(such as a tensioning element), is introduced at least partially aroundthe mitral valve, for example at least partially through the coronarysinus and over a coronary artery. The protective device is placedbetween the annuloplasty element and the coronary artery, with theannuloplasty element separated from the underlying coronary artery bythe bridge of the device. Compressive remodeling forces are exerted bythe annuloplasty device (for example by applying tension on a tensioningelement to alter the shape or configuration of the mitral valve annulusto reduce its circumference) while supporting the annuloplasty elementon the bridge to inhibit application of pressure to the coronary artery.The function of the mitral valve in the patient is thereby improvedwithout impairing coronary blood flow.

In some embodiments, the annuloplasty element is introduced at leastpartially around the mitral valve by advancing the annuloplasty elementin an endovascular catheter through the vascular system of the subjectto the heart, and introducing the annuloplasty element and theprotective device from the catheter into the coronary sinus through acoronary sinus ostium. The annuloplasty element may, for example be atensioning element such as a ligature, which in some embodiments issuture material. In those embodiments in which the protective deviceincludes an internal lumen, the annuloplasty element extends through thelumen of the protective device over the coronary artery so that theannuloplasty element is supported by the protective device. Theprotective device can be integrated directly into the annuloplastyelement, such as a resilient or expandable device, or a tensioningelement or tensioning material.

In other embodiments, this disclosure provides a method of improvingfunction of a mitral valve in a subject who has mitral regurgitation byperforming a mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty. In a particulardisclosed example of the procedure, a guiding catheter is percutaneouslyinserted through the vasculature of a subject. The guiding catheter isintroduced through the coronary sinus and over an underlying coronaryartery or other heart structure that is to be protected with the device.In one example, the catheter is introduced into the great cardiac vein,and a steerable microcatheter or other coaxial guiding catheter orsteering device introduces a guidewire or other penetrating device (suchas a needle, radiofrequency energy ablation device or laser ablationdevice) into a basal blood vessel such as the first septal coronaryvein. From there the penetrating device directly traverses under imagingguidance the septal myocardium or annulus fibrosis and reenters theright ventricle or right atrium.

The guidewire is then retrieved using, for example, a vascular snare,and the guiding catheter and guidewire are replaced with a tensioningsystem. The protective device is then introduced through the guidingcatheter over or in tandem with the tensioning system so as to protectan underlying coronary artery when tension is introduced to perform theannuloplasty. The location of the jeopardized coronary artery isidentified, for example, by radiocontrast angiography or by fusion ofprior computed tomography angiography and live X-ray or usingintravascular ultrasound. In an alternative approach, coronary veins areentered in the other direction from the right atrium or right ventricleunder imaging guidance into a branch of the coronary sinus.

Tension is applied through, for example, suture material exchanged forthe cerclage guidewire. Tension can be applied through both ends of thesuture as they are externalized at the point of vascular access. Tensionis applied under imaging guidance until the desired degree of mitralannular circumferential reduction is accomplished, or until the mitralvalve regurgitation is reduced, or until other deleterious endpoints areachieved such as mitral valve inflow obstruction. Tension is securedusing a tension fixation device applied to both ends of the suture atthe right atrium or right ventricle where the two cerclage trajectoriescross, or at the point of vascular access, or in between the two.Tension is delivered by counterpressure against the fixation device, forexample, applied through a delivery catheter. Before fixation, tensioncan be released or reduced, for example, to reposition the protectiondevice or to achieve a lower degree of mitral annular circumferentialreduction.

In some embodiments, the protection device can be incorporated duringmanufacture into the tension suture device, such that longitudinaldisplacement of the tension suture material alters the circumferentialposition of the protection device in relation to the underlying coronaryarteries. This embodiment allows the protection device to be positionedover the protected coronary artery by longitudinal displacement of thetension suture material.

The protection device can be incorporated, by modification, into acoronary sinus shortening system already publicly disclosed, tested, ormarketed, for the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation.

In another described embodiment of a transcatheter coronary sinusprocedure, annuloplasty is performed by advancing a wire through thecatheter into the coronary sinus to a coronary vein branch such as ananterolateral cardiac vein, and then across myocardial or fibrous tissueof the heart through the left ventricular chamber, and further acrossmyocardium into the right ventricular or right atrial cavity. The wireis then exchanged to introduce tensioning material through the coronarysinus, and tension is applied on the tensioning material to alter theshape of the heart or valves and reduce unwanted, for exampledeleterious, cardiac remodeling or valvular regurgitation.

Different lengths of protection devices may be made available to offerprotection for narrow or wide segments of single or multiple coronaryarteries potentially compressed by the cerclage or other annuloplastydevice. Similarly, multiple protection devices may be used in tandem tooffer protection to adjacent or nonadjacent circumferential segmentspotentially compressed by the cerclage or other annuloplasty device.Similarly the protection devices can be employed to protect othercardiac structures that may be compromised by the annuloplasty tensionelement, such as from focal erosion of the myocardium or laceration ofthe tricuspid valve leaflet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows two embodiments of the protective device. FIG. 1A is a sideelevational view of a first embodiment of the protective device whichhas a central curved arch and two substantially linear ends that extendin the same plane as one another and function as support feet. Theprotective device has a hollow lumen through which a ligature (forexample, and without limitation, a wire or suture) can pass, as shown bythe broken line. FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of anotherembodiment of the protective device. In this embodiment, the protectivedevice has a central curved portion and no support feet.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the protective device in positionduring a cerclage annuloplasty procedure. The ligature encircles themitral annulus via the coronary sinus, and the protective device ispositioned over a coronary artery where the coronary sinus liessuperficial to the artery.

FIG. 3 is a set of drawings showing the region of the heart involved intrans-sinus coronary annuloplasty and illustrating the use of theprotective device to prevent pinching of the coronary artery whentension is applied to a cerclage tensioning device. FIG. 3A is a leftlateral external perspective view of the heart showing the lateralcoronary artery branching from the ascending aorta, the branch of thelateral circumflex artery, and the great cardiac vein. FIG. 3B is anenlarged view of a section of the arteries showing the coronary sinuscrossing superficial to the left circumflex coronary artery at the levelof the great cardiac vein. FIG. 3C is a view similar to FIG. 3B butshowing placement of a ligature (for example, and without limitation, awire or suture) during annuloplasty without the protective device inplace. When the ligature is tightened during the annuloplasty procedure,pressure is exerted on the branch of the coronary artery, restrictingblood flow and myocardial perfusion. FIG. 3D is an enlarged view of thissame structure showing placement of the protective device over theligature within the coronary sinus and superficial to the coronaryartery.

FIG. 4A is a schematic top view of a human heart, taken at the level ofthe atrioventricular valves, showing in dashed lines two alternativetrajectories of the cerclage annuloplasty ligature around the mitralvalve. FIG. 4B is a front perspective view of the heart with portions ofthe myocardial wall broken away to show the cerclage annuloplastytrajectories of FIG. 4B. FIG. 4C is a rear perspective view of the heartshowing the tilted plane of the coronary sinus cerclage annuloplasty.The drawing schematically illustrates a smaller traditional surgicalmitral valve annuloplasty ring over the mitral valve annular plane andthe larger coronary artery cerclage in a plane that is tilted to themitral plane so as to encompass the left ventricular outflow tract.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the protectivedevice for protecting a coronary artery from compression during theannuloplasty procedure, showing a device made of nitinol with a surgicalsuture (black monofilament nylon) ligature extending through the device.

FIG. 6 is a digital image of a left coronary angiogram before tension isapplied to a mitral annuloplasty wire in a pig. Arrows indicate theposition of the annuloplasty wire that encircles the mitral annulus viathe coronary sinus.

FIG. 7 is a digital image of a left coronary angiogram showing a part ofthe left circumflex artery that is severely pinched by an annuloplastywire that encircles the mitral annulus via the coronary sinus in a pig.

FIG. 8 is a digital image of a left coronary angiogram showing that theprotective device protects the coronary artery from compression whentension is applied to a wire ligature that encircles the mitral annulusvia the coronary sinus in a pig.

FIG. 9 is a series of four digital images of angiograms showing that theseverity of compression of the left circumflex artery was positivelycorrelated with the magnitude of tension applied to the cerclageligature (without the protective device).

FIG. 10 shows the results of cerclage annuloplasty without (A, C) andwith (B, D) the protective device. Panels A and B are digital images ofcoronary angiograms, while panels C and D are intracoronary pressurerecordings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS I. Explanation of Terms

Unless otherwise noted, technical terms are used according toconventional usage. In order to facilitate review of the variousembodiments of the disclosure, the following explanation of terms isprovided:

“Annuloplasty element” refers to a device that induces reshaping of anannulus of the heart to repair valvular insufficiency. Such devicesinclude those that are placed in the coronary sinus and exert theiraction by compressive forces on the annulus, for example by expansion ofa resilient annuloplasty element, or placement of the annuloplastyelement under tension, as in cerclage annuloplasty.

The term “comprises” means “includes without limitation.” Thus,“comprising a guiding catheter and a guide wire” means “including aguiding catheter and a guide wire,” without excluding additionalelements.

The term “guide wire” refers to a simple guide wire, a stiffened guidewire, or a steerable guide-wire catheter that is capable of puncturingand/or penetrating tissue. The guide-wire also can deliver energy toaugment its ability to penetrate tissue, for example by puncturing it,delivering radiofrequency ablative energy or by delivering laserablative energy. These are examples of a “penetrating device,” which isa device capable of penetrating heart tissue, such as the myocardium.

As used herein, the term “ligature” is meant to encompass any suitabletensioning material and is not limited to only suture material. The term“tensioning material” or “ligature” includes sutures and annuloplastywires.

A “mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty” refers to an annuloplastyprocedure in which a tensioning element is placed through at least aportion (and preferably all) of the coronary sinus so that thecircumferential tension is delivered around the mitral valve annulus andso that a tensioning element can be placed under selective degrees oftension to perform the annuloplasty. An example of cerclage annuloplastyis disclosed in co-pending prior application Ser. No. 11/127,112 (U.S.Patent Publication No. 2005/0216039), and the disclosure of thedescription of that technique is incorporated herein by reference.However, the mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty technique also includesother cerclage trajectories, such as those disclosed herein, including atrajectory through a proximal coronary septal perforator vein andmyocardium or annulus fibrosis interposing between that vein and theright ventricle or right atrium to create circumferential cerclageannuloplasty tension.

The protective (or protection) device disclosed herein can be made of an“MRI-compatible” material. Such materials are safe to use in the bodyduring magnetic resonance imaging of the body, and do not substantiallyaffect imaging quality of the MRI. An “MRI-safe” material is one thatdoes not add substantial risk to a human or equipment by placing it inthe magnetic field of an MR environment. Examples of MRI-compatiblematerials are non-ferrous materials, such as ceramics, plastics andnon-magnetic composite materials. Austenitic stainless steels (of the300 series) are neither ferromagnetic nor paramagnetic and therefore areMRI-compatible. Titanium and aluminum are MRI-compatible, even thoughthey are not ideally paramagnetic. Particularly disclosed MRI-compatiblematerials of which the protective device may be made include nitinol,MP35N and cobalt-chromium alloys.

“Tensioning material” is any material suitable to perform a coronarysinus mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty, in which an encirclingmaterial is placed under tension to remodel the mitral valve annulus.Examples of suitable tensioning materials are the ligature materialsalready described.

Unless otherwise explained, all technical and scientific terms usedherein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The singular terms“a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless context clearlyindicates otherwise. The term “or” refers to a single element of statedalternative elements or a combination of two or more elements, unlesscontext clearly indicates otherwise. For example, the phrase “rtMRI orechocardiography” refers to real-time MRI (rtMRI), echoradiography, orboth rtMRI and echocardiography. Although methods and materials similaror equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice ortesting of the present disclosure, suitable methods and materials aredescribed below. In case of conflict, the present specification,including terms, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, andexamples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

II. Protection Device to Protect Coronary Arteries During Mitral ValveCerclage Annuloplasty (FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C)

Coronary sinus mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty is an example of apercutaneous mitral valve repair procedure for which the disclosedprotective device can be used. Although the device and methods of itsuse are broadly applicable to any prosthetic annuloplasty element placedin the coronary sinus, the methods will be described in connection withthe particular example of cerclage annuloplasty. This specific exampleshould not be construed to limit the procedure to use with cercalgeannuloplasty, but only to illustrate its use in a particular embodiment.

Cerclage annuloplasty percutaneous repair carries a lower risk ormorbidity than conventional mitral valve surgery, and thus can be usedin patients who have less severe or more severe valvular dysfunction.Placing cerclage ligatures at least partially through the coronary sinustakes advantage of the proximity of the coronary sinus to the mitralvalve annulus, and of the ready catheter access to the coronary sinusand tributary veins. These approaches also have limiting drawbacks,however, in that compression of nearby coronary artery branches is aserious risk in a majority of human subjects. The coronary sinus usuallyruns superficial to the circumflex coronary artery and its marginalbranches near the great cardiac vein, and therefore trans-sinusannuloplasty can transmit pressure sufficient to constrict or occludethe coronary artery or its branches. Devices and methods that preventthis compression of the coronary artery, such as those disclosed herein,can dramatically increase the safety and efficacy of trans-sinus mitralcerclage annuloplasty.

An exemplary transcatheter-mitral-valve-cerclage annuloplasty involvesthe introduction of a tensioning material or device around the mitralvalve annulus using a guiding catheter and a secondary catheter, such asa steerable microcatheter directing coaxial guide wires or canalizationcatheter. Access to the area around the mitral-valve annulus can beaccomplished using a variety of percutaneous approaches, includingaccess from and through the coronary sinus. In particular embodiments, acontinuous strand of tensioning material also referred to as a cerclageligature (for example, and without limitation, a tensioning materialsuch as a wire or suture) is applied around the mitral-valve annulusalong a pathway that, in certain embodiments, includes an extra-anatomicportion. For example (and without limitation), the tensioning materialcan traverse a region between the anterobasal-most portion of thecoronary sinus and the coronary-sinus ostium. As another non-limitingexample, tensioning material can be applied across the atrial aspect ofthe mitral valve from the posterolateral aspect to the anterior aspectof the coronary sinus, or from the septal aspect to the lateral aspectof the mitral-valve annulus. This procedure reduces the mitral annularcross-sectional area and septal-lateral wall separation, therebyrestoring a line of coaptation of the mitral valve.

Because it has now been found that mitral annuloplasty via the coronarysinus unintentionally transmits pressure sufficient to constrict orocclude the underlying coronary artery, the devices disclosed hereinhave been developed to increase the safety and efficacy of theprocedure. The disclosed devices protect an underlying vessel fromcompression during mitral annuloplasty in which a cerclage ligatureextends at least partially through the coronary sinus over a coronaryartery. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the device is a surgicallysterile protection device or bridge 20 of a suitable shape and size topermit its introduction through a transvascular catheter into thecoronary sinus. The protection device has an internal lumen extendingits length through which a mitral cerclage tension element 22 can extendand be placed under tension, and the protection device also includes acentral arch 24 of sufficient rigidity and dimensions to inhibitapplication of pressure to the underlying left circumflex artery whenthe cerclage tension element is placed under tension during mitral valveannuloplasty. For example, the protection device has a semi-circularshape of sufficient radius to extend closely over an underlying coronaryartery to inhibit the transmission of compressive forces from thetension element to the underlying artery. The compressive forces areinstead distributed on and along the protection device to protect theartery from compression that impairs myocardial perfusion.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the central arch of the device extendsbetween a proximal end 26 and a distal end 28 of the protection device,and the proximal and distal ends are not curved but extend insubstantially the same plane as one another, radially away from thearch, to form stabilizing feet 30, 32 that can rest against a wall ofthe coronary sinus while straddling a coronary artery to retainprotection device 20 in position over the left circumflex artery andbear and distribute the compressive forces that are applied by ligature22 under tension. The example of the device illustrated in FIG. 1A has acentral arch bridging a linear distance d1 at its base of from about 0.5inches to about 0.6 inches, for instance, from about 0.52 inches toabout 0.55 inches, or about 0.536 inches. The illustrated central archhas a height h from about 0.15 inches to about 0.16 inches high, forinstance, about 0.1545 inches high. These dimensions are examples ofdimensions that can be assumed by the device, which help it conformclosely to without occluding a coronary artery.

The illustrated embodiment of the protection device in FIG. 1A is agenerally tubular member having an outer diameter from about 0.04 toabout 0.05 inches, and the inner diameter is from about 0.025 inches toabout 0.035 inches along its entire length. In particular examples, theprotection device outer diameter is about 0.045 inches along its entirelength, and in other particular examples, the diameter of the innerlumen is from about 0.025 inches to about 0.035 inches along its entirelength, for instance, about 0.030 inches along its entire length. Ineven more particular examples, the central arch bridges a lineardistance at its base about 0.536 inches, the central arch is about0.1545 inches high, the protection device outer diameter is about 0.045inches, and the inner diameter is about 0.030 inches. In certainexamples, the device is made from a shape memory material, for instancea nickel titanium alloy such as nitinol, that allows the device to bedeformed (for example toward a linear configuration) that is adaptableto introduction through the vascular system. However, the shape memorymaterial returns to the arched configuration shown in the drawings afterthe device is deployed from a delivery catheter.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the use of protection device 20 in amitral valve cerclage annuloplasty procedure. FIG. 2 depicts tensioningelement 22 (suture material) extending through a portion of the coronarysinus 50 over a circumflex coronary artery 52. FIG. 2 shows protectiondevice 22 is positioned within coronary sinus 50 with arch 24 extendingover coronary artery 52, and feet 30, 32 on either side of coronaryartery 52. As tension is placed on tensioning element 22 the supportfeet 30, 32 are held in place on either side of coronary artery 52 andtransmit compressive forces to the wall of coronary sinus 50 instead ofon to underlying coronary artery 52.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D provide an alternative view of the function ofcerclage annuloplasty protection device 20. FIG. 3A shows the externalanatomy of the heart, with coronary sinus 50 extending over a circumflexbranch 52 of a left coronary artery 54. FIG. 3B shows an enlarged viewof the overlapping relationship of coronary sinus 50 to coronary artery52. FIG. 3C illustrates tension element 22 placed under tension duringcerclage annuloplasty which is compressing underlying coronary artery 52and interfering with myocardial perfusion. FIG. 3D shows tensioningmaterial 22 extending through protection device 20 which is inhibitingthe application of compressive force to coronary artery 52 whichtherefore remains patent and able to normally perfuse myocardial tissue.

An alternative embodiment of the protection device is shown in FIG. 1B,in which a protection device 54 is tubular so that an internal lumenextends through it to accommodate tension material 22. However thisembodiment is shaped into a generally arcuate (for example parabolic orcatenary shape instead of semi-circular) arch 56. The distance d2spanned by arch 58 is slightly greater than the distance d1 spanned byarch 24 in the embodiment of FIG. 3A because of the more gradual slopeof arch 44. Protection device 54 of FIG. 3 also does not have thesupport feet of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, and compressive forcesare distributed directly from proximal and distal ends 58, 59 ofprotection device 50 to a wall of the coronary sinus at a position otherthan over an underlying coronary artery.

The protection device can assume a variety of shapes and configurationsthat support the tensioning material away from an underlying coronaryartery. The protection device can be pre-shaped to the desiredconfiguration, or it can be made of a memory alloy material that isgenerally linear when being advanced through the guidance catheter butassumes the desired protection device shape once it is deployed from theguidance catheter over the tensioning material.

Although the illustrated protection devices are tubular, a tubularstructure is not necessary. For example, the protective device can takethe form of a support or bridge having an open top on which thetensioning material is supported. The support would preferably have sideguides (such as curved or upright members) that help retain thetensioning material on the support by resisting lateral forces thatcould dislodge the tensioning material from the support, whilepermitting longitudinal movement of the tensioning material along thesupport.

III. Percutaneous Mitral Valve Cerclage Annuloplasty

A. Mitral Regurgitation

Regurgitation (leakage) of the mitral valve or tricuspid valve canresult from many different causes, such as ischemic heart disease,myocardial infarction, acquired or inherited cardiomyopathy, congenitaldefect, traumatic injury, infectious disease, and various forms of heartdisease. Primary heart muscle disease can cause valvular regurgitationthrough dilation, resulting in expansion of the valvular annulus leadingto malcoaptation of the valve leaflets through overstretching,degeneration, or rupture of the papillary muscle apparatus, or throughdysfunction or malpositioning of the papillary muscles. Thisregurgitation can cause heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrialfibrillation, which itself can cause inexorable deterioration in heartmuscle function. Such deterioration can be associated with functionalimpairment, congestive heart failure and significant pain, suffering,lessening of the quality of life, or even premature death.

A less dangerous, minimally invasive procedure, such as percutaneousannuloplasty, permits more patients to undergo mechanical treatment ofvalvular regurgitation.

B. Percutaneous Cerclage Annuloplasty

Because the risks and complications of surgery are reduced (comparedwith open-heart surgery), catheter-based heart-valve procedures aresuitable for a broader population of patients. Disclosed herein aredevices and methods for catheter-based valve repair that can be used torepair damaged or malfunctioning cardiac valves, for instance, byre-apposing valve leaflets by percutaneous-cerclage annuloplasty(reconstruction or augmentation of the ring or annulus of a defectivecardiac valve). In some instances, percutaneous cerclage annuloplasty isused to deliver circumferential or radial tensioning devices. Examplesof some of these procedures are described in detail in WO2004/045378 andUS 2005/0216039, which are incorporated herein by reference.

In general, the system used to carry out an annuloplasty procedure caninclude a guiding catheter (GC), such as a preformed transjugularballoon-tipped guiding catheter which is introduced into the coronary(venous) sinus. A retrograde coronary radiocontrast venogram pressurizesand visualizes the great cardiac vein and septal perforator veins. Ahigh performance guidewire designed for coronary artery recanalizationmay be steered using a deflectable microcatheter into the great cardiacvein and thereafter into a basal septal perforator vein.

In general, an annuloplasty procedure also can include using an imagingsystem to image the internal bodily tissues, organs, structures,cavities, and spaces of the subject being treated. For example,transmitter or receiver coils can be used to facilitate active-devicenavigation using an imaging system, such as magnetic-resonance imaging(MRI). This imaging can be conducted along arbitrary or predeterminedplanes using various imaging methods based on X-ray technologies, X-rayfluoroscopy, MRI, electromagnetic-positron navigation, videotechnologies (such as endoscopy, arthroscopy, and the like), ultrasound,and other such technologies. In some embodiments, real-time MRI (rtMRI),intracardiac ultrasound, or electromagnetic guidance is employed. Aparticularly useful adjunct in cerclage annuloplasty is XFM, in whichX-Ray is used with MRI to target myocardial structures, for example tohelp guide the annuloplasty wire in its trajectory through thestructures of the heart. The XFM technique is disclosed, for example, inde Silva et al., Circulation 114:2342-2350 (2006).

The guiding catheter enables percutaneous access into a subject's body,for example, percutaneous access to the heart, such as a chamber of theheart through an arm, neck, or leg vein. In some embodiments, theguiding catheter is designed for access to the ventricle and/or atriumof the heart. The guiding catheter permits introduction of one or moresecondary catheters, including a valve-manipulation catheter ormicrocatheter or canalization-needle catheter. The secondary catheter(or catheters) is used to treat, affect, or manipulate an organ, tissue,or structure of interest in the subject's body, such as the heart orparticular structures within the heart. If the guiding catheter is usedfor percutaneous (or other) access to the heart, the guiding catheterpermits introduction of one or more secondary catheters, such as avalve-manipulation catheter, into the heart while maintaininghemostasis. The secondary catheters may be coaxial or adjacent to eachother, or may be introduced from multiple points of access outside thebody.

Guiding catheters are available in different shapes to suit theappropriate component of the mitral-valve-repair procedure. For example,guiding catheter shapes can be provided to suit different coronarysinuses with different radii of curvature, to suit different coronaryveins, transaortic as well as transseptal access routes, or to suitatria and ventricles of different calibers. All such shapes can beaccommodated with appropriate primary, secondary, and tertiary curves.Examples of catheter configurations suitable to perform percutaneoustransvascular mitral valve annuloplasty are know in the art anddescribed in detail in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0216039, whichdescription is incorporated by reference herein.

Although any available approach to the coronary sinus may be used, avenous approach is preferred, for example through the jugular vein. Asyet another example, the guiding catheter can be introduced into a vein,such as the femoral or jugular vein, and guided through the inferior orsuperior vena cava into the right ventricle of the heart.

Two examples of trajectories for cerclage annuloplasty are shown in FIG.4A and FIG. 4B. The first trajectory (labeled a “simple” or “RV”trajectory) is one in which the annuloplasty wire enters the rightatrium through the superior vena cava and is then introduced through thecoronary ostium into the coronary sinus. The wire is advanced throughthe great cardiac vein into a basal blood vessel, such as a basal septalperforator vein. The wire then exits the septal perforator vein throughmyocardial interstitium into the right ventricle, re-entering the rightatrium along the septal tricuspid valve commisure (at the intersectionof the anterior cusp and the septal cusp). The guidewire is thenretrieved using, for example, a vascular snare, and the guiding catheterand guidewire are replaced with a different tensioning system, such as atensioning suture. The replacement can occur, for example, by attachingthe tensioning material to the guidewire and advancing the tensioningmaterial along the path of the guidewire as the guidewire is withdrawn.The protection device is then introduced through the guiding catheterover or in tandem with the tensioning system so as to protect anunderlying coronary artery when tension is introduced to perform theannuloplasty. The location of the jeopardized coronary artery isidentified, for example, by radiocontrast angiography. In an alternativeapproach, coronary veins are entered in the opposite direction from theright atrium or right ventricle under imaging guidance into a branch ofthe coronary sinus.

An alternative or “complex” right atrial cerclage trajectory shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B extends further posterior through the basal septalmyocardium into the right atrium near the coronary sinus. The wiretraverses deep tissue of the septum moving in a posterior direction andexits above the opening of the coronary sinus.

The plane of the resulting cerclage annuloplasty is shown in FIG. 4C tobe related to and in the plane of the coronary sinus 60 such thatannuloplasty remains uniquely feasible even if the coronary sinus isremote from the mitral valve annuloplasty. As the figure indicates, theplane of cerclage 60 enhances mitral valve coaptation, even when thecoronary sinus is geometrically remote from the mitral valve annulus,because it is “tilted” toward the left ventricular outflow tract. Theillustrated angle α between the cerclage plane 60 and the plane of themitral valve annulus 62 is therefore advantageous. Moreover, theillustrated trajectories of the cerclage annuloplasty induces reciprocalmitral valve coaptation and left ventricular outflow tract relaxationduring ventricular systole.

The guide wire is dimensioned to operate with the catheter and isusually longer than the guiding catheter. For example, a guide wire ofabout 100 to about 250 centimeters in length and about 0.1 to about 2 mmin diameter can be used with the guiding catheter described above. If asecondary catheter, such as a tension delivery catheter, is intended foruse with the guiding catheter, that secondary catheter also isdimensioned to operate with the guiding catheter and is usually longerthan the guiding catheter.

The guiding catheter can be made of any suitable material or combinationof materials that provide both the strength and flexibility suitable toresist collapse by external forces, such as forces imposed duringbending or twisting. Exemplary materials include, but are not limitedto: polymers, such as polyethylene or polyurethane; carbon fiber;ceramic; or metals, such as nitinol, platinum, titanium, tantalum,tungsten, stainless steel, copper, gold, cobalt-chromium alloy, ornickel. The guiding catheter optionally can be composed of or reinforcedwith fibers of metal, carbon fiber, glass, fiberglass, a rigid polymer,or other high-strength material. In particular embodiments, the guidingcatheter material is compatible with MRI, for example, braided nitinol,platinum, tungsten, gold, or carbon fiber. Additionally, the exteriorsurfaces of the guiding catheter can be coated with a material orsubstance, such as Teflon® or other lubricous material that aids withthe insertion of the guiding catheter into the body of the subjectand/or aids in the movement of the guiding catheter through thesubject's body.

Additionally, the guiding catheter can include a deflectable tip, suchas a simple deflectable tip having a single degree of axial freedom.Exemplary (non-limiting) fixed-fulcrum andmovable-fulcrum-deflectable-tip catheters are commercially available,such as the deflectable-tip catheters described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,397,321; 5,487,757; 5,944,689; 5,928,191; 6,074,351; 6,198,974; and6,346,099. Thus, any suitable fixed-fulcrum or movable-fulcrumdeflectable-tip catheter can be adapted for use as a guiding catheterdisclosed herein. The guiding catheter also can include structures ormechanisms for aiding in the rotation of the catheter about itslongitudinal axis.

The guiding catheter can include a guide collar, handgrip, handle, andother structures or devices at its proximal end that aid in operation ofthe guiding catheter. Various control mechanisms, including electrical,optical, or mechanical control mechanisms, can be attached to thecatheter via a guide collar. For example, a guide wire can be includedas a mechanical control mechanism. The guide collar can includeadditional operational features, such as a grip for aiding manualcontrol of the guiding catheter, markers indicating the orientation ofthe guiding catheter lumen or subdivided lumens, markers to gauge thedepth of guiding catheter advancement, instruments to measure guidingcatheter operation or physiological signs of the subject (for example, atemperature gauge or pressure monitor), or an injector control mechanismcoupled to the guiding catheter lumen for delivering a small, precisevolume of injectate. In some embodiments, the guide collar containsinstrumentation electrically coupled to metallic braiding within theguiding catheter, thus allowing the guiding catheter to simultaneouslybe used as a receiver coil for MRI.

A guide wire used with the system for guiding the guiding catheter intoand through a subject's body can be composed of any suitable material,or combination of materials, including the materials described above inrelation to the guiding catheter. Exemplary (non-limiting) guide wiresare composed of material having the strength and flexibility suitablefor use with the device, such as a strand of metal (for example,surgical stainless steel, nitinol, platinum, titanium, tungsten, copper,or nickel), carbon fiber, or a polymer, such as braided nylon.Particular (non-limiting) guide wires are composed of a strand ofNitinol® or other flexible, kink-resistant material.

The guiding catheter or guide wire can include an image-enhancingfeature, structure, material, or apparatus, such as a radiopaque marker(for example, a platinum or tantalum band around the circumference ofthe guide wire) adjacent its distal end. As another example, the guidewire can include etchings or notches, or be coated with a sonoreflectivematerial to enhance images obtained via intravascular, intracardiac,transesophogeal, or other ultrasound-imaging method. As another example,the guide wire can be coated with a T1-shortening or T2*-shorteningagent to facilitate passive visualization using MRI. As yet anotherexample, a fiber-optic secondary catheter can be inserted into andthrough a secondary-catheter lumen of the guiding catheter to assist invisualizing the position of the guide wire within the subject as a guidewire is deployed through the distal guide-wire lumen port.

In some embodiments, the guide wire and/or guiding catheter includes astructure, apparatus, or device at its distal tip useful for penetratingtissue, such as myocardial skeleton, muscle, or connective tissue. Forexample, the distal tip of the guide wire can be sharpened to a pointfor puncturing through tissue, or a secondary catheter having a coringmechanism or forceps at its distal tip can be used in conjunction withthe guiding catheter. In alternative embodiments, the guide wire candeliver radiofrequency or laser ablative energy to assist with traversalof tissue. However, in alternative embodiments, the distal end of theguide wire is bent to provide a J-shaped or a pigtail-shaped tip toprotect against perforation of tissue by the guide wire duringmanipulation. In still other alternative embodiments, the guide wireitself has a deflectable tip to facilitate traversal of tissueirrespective of natural tissue planes.

One or more secondary catheters can be deployed within the lumen of theguiding catheter. Like the guiding catheter, each secondary catheter hasa proximal end and a distal end; however, not all secondary cathetershave a lumen. For example, non-lumen secondary catheters can includevarious probes, such as temperature probes, radiofrequency or cryogenicablation probes, or solid needles. An exemplary non-limiting secondarycatheter is a canalization needle catheter, which can be deployedthrough the guiding catheter and into a chamber of the heart to placecerclage annuloplasty ligature through the coronary sinus around themitral valve. A canalization-needle catheter is a type of secondarycatheter that can be used to apply a suture to a bodily tissue, organ,or structure of interest.

Ligatures used for the sutures described herein can be composed of anysuitable material, such as surgical cotton, cotton tape, linen, or othernatural fiber; nylon, polyester, or other polymer; metal, such assurgical stainless steel or nitinol; carbon fiber; or surgical gut.Ligature materials can be used in a woven, braided, or monofilamentform. Suitable ligature and suture materials are commercially availablefrom Ethicon, Inc. (Somerville, N.J.) and other companies.

C. Application of Tension

Tension is applied via the annuloplasty cerclage through, for example,suture material exchanged for the cerclage guidewire. Tension can beapplied through both ends of the suture as they are externalized at thepoint of vascular access. Tension is applied under imaging guidanceuntil the desired degree of mitral annular circumferential reduction isaccomplished, or until the mitral valve regurgitation is reduced, oruntil other deleterious endpoints are achieved such as mitral valveinflow obstruction. Tension is secured using a knot or using a tensionfixation device applied to both ends of the suture at the right atriumor right ventricle where the two cerclage trajectories cross, or at thepoint of vascular access, or in between the two. Tension is delivered bycounterpressure against the fixation device, for example, appliedthrough a delivery catheter. Before fixation, tension can be released orreduced, for example, to reposition the protection device or to achievea lower degree of mitral annular circumferential reduction.

As tension is applied, valvular regurgitation is assessed repeatedly andnon-invasively by an appropriate imaging technique. Such imagingtechniques include X-ray angiography, electromagnetic positiondetection, MRI, external or intracavitary or intravascular ultrasound,X-ray computed tomography, pressure transducers in an affected chambersuch as the left atrium or the pulmonary vein or the pulmonary artery,or a “fusion” or combination of any of the above. After the valvularregurgitation has been reduced (or even eliminated) and a desiredtension is achieved, the tension is fixed using a knot delivery system.If the resulting circumferential suture is knotted to form a closedloop, the suture essentially becomes a cerclage suture.

Without further elaboration, it is believed that one skilled in the artcan, using this description, utilize the present discoveries to theirfullest extent. The following examples are illustrative only, and notlimiting of the disclosure in any way whatsoever.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Annuloplasty Using Protective Device withPercutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty Wire for Cerclage

This Example demonstrates the efficacy of one embodiment of theprotective device in protecting the coronary artery from compressionduring trans-sinus annuloplasty. In this Example, the protective devicewas constructed of a stainless-steel hypotube (FIG. 5). A 57 kg Yucatanpig was anesthetized, and after obtaining vascular access in the rightjugular vein, the femoral vein, and the femoral artery, an annuloplastywire (0.014 conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) wire) was positioned around the mitral annulus to form a cerclageusing the method described herein in which tensioning material passesthrough the coronary sinus over a coronary artery. FIG. 6 shows the leftcoronary angiogram of the subject with the wire in position, but beforetension was applied.

After encircling the mitral annulus with the annuloplasty wire via thecoronary sinus, tension was applied by traction on both ends of theexternalized guide wire. When tension was applied to the wire, a focalsegment of left circumflex artery was constricted where the coronarysinus lies superficial to the artery, so that the minimal lumen diameterof left circumflex artery decreased from 2.0 mm to 0.3 mm (FIG. 7).

By contrast, when this same protocol was carried out a second time, butthe protective device was positioned over the left circumflex arterybranch, the coronary constriction was reduced to 1.5 mm of minimalluminal diameter of left circumflex artery when the same tension wasapplied to the wire (FIG. 8). Thus, the protective device protected thecoronary artery from extrinsic compression during trans-sinusannuloplasty.

Example 2 Annuloplasty Using an Alternate Embodiment of the ProtectiveDevice

To quantify the protective ability of the device, the pressure in theleft circumflex artery was measured using a conventional coronarypressure wire (Radi pressure wire). A 65 kg Yucatan pig wasanesthetized, and after obtaining vascular access in the right jugularvein, the femoral vein, and the femoral artery, an annuloplasty wire(0.014 conventional PTCA wire) was positioned around the mitral annulusto form a cerclage essentially as described in Example 1. After placingthe cerclage, but before tension was applied, the pressure wire waspositioned at a site in the left circumflex artery that was distal tothe point where the cerclage passed over the coronary artery. Distalcoronary pressure was measured while tension was applied with andwithout the protective device in place over the left circumflex arterybranch. The protective device ameliorated the reduction in distalcoronary artery pressure caused by the tension in the cerclage.

Example 3 Annuloplasty Using a Third Embodiment of the Protective Device

This Example demonstrates the efficacy of another alternate embodimentof the protective device. For this Example, the protective device wasmodified to augment the height of the central curve, and thereby furtherprotect the coronary artery from compression during annuloplasty. A 74kg Yucatan pig was anesthetized, and after obtaining vascular access inthe right jugular vein, the femoral vein, and the femoral artery, anannuloplasty wire (0.014 conventional PTCA wire) was positioned aroundthe mitral annulus to form a cerclage essentially as described inExample 1. After placing the cerclage, the end of cerclage wire from theright jugular vein was fixed and graded tensions of 0 grams, 200 grams,400 grams and 600 grams were applied through the femoral end of acerclage wire with and without the protective device in position overthe left circumflex artery branch. FIG. 9 is a series of angiograms thatshow the effect on blood flow through the left circumflex artery whenmild, moderate, and maximal tension was applied to the wire without theprotective device in position.

The protective device was then positioned over the left circumflexartery branch and the same tensions were applied to the cerclage wire.While the phenomenon of coronary pinching became more pronounced as thetension increased, use of the protective device completely abated thedrop in blood pressure that was observed when the protective device wasnot used (FIG. 10). The augmented height of the curve of the protectivedevice in this embodiment improved the angiographic protection effect ascompared to the protective devices of Examples 1 and 2.

Example 4 Use of the Protective Device with a Suture Cerclage

This Example demonstrates the efficacy of the protective device whenused with a suture cerclage instead of a PTCA wire. A biocompatiblesuture material is a suitable cerclage ligature in many applications,however the metallic PTCA wire used in Examples 1-3 has differentproperties than a biocompatible suture. To determine whether theflexibility of the suture material affects the function of theprotective device, the device was tested during a suture-based cerclageannuloplasty. A 55 kg Yorkshire pig was anesthetized, and afterobtaining vascular access in the right jugular vein, the femoral vein,and the femoral artery, an annuloplasty wire (0.014 conventional PTCAwire) was positioned around the mitral annulus to form a cerclageessentially as described in Example 1. This procedure was then repeatingusing a conventional surgical suture that was made of non-absorbableblack mono nylon with a thickness of 0.014 inches.

For this Example, the dimensions of the protective device were alteredand the device was made from nitinol which is MRI-compatible. The widthand height of the device were 0.536″ and 0.1545″ respectively, and thediameter of inner lumen and outer surface were 0.030″ and 0.045″respectively. Tension was applied using the same method described inExamples 1-3. When tension was applied, a focal segment of proximal leftcircumflex artery was completely obstructed.

The protective device was positioned over the left circumflex arterybranch via delivering catheter and tension was applied as describedabove. This embodiment of the protective device afforded completeprotection (no coronary compression) at comparable annuloplasty cerclagetensions. Thus, this embodiment of the protection device completelyprevents coronary artery compression when used in combination with asuture cerclage.

Example 5 Use of the Protection Device with Other Coronary SinusAnnuloplasty Techniques

The use of the protective device has been disclosed for use in acerclage annuloplasty technique. However, the protective device can beused with any other annuloplasty device that extends even partiallythrough the coronary sinus in a region that crosses an underlyingcoronary artery. For example, the protective device can be used toprotect against compression of coronary arteries with any coronary sinusannuloplasty device, such as the coronary sinus device in U.S. Pat. No.7,090,695 or the inflatable coronary sinus device shown in U.S. Pat. No.10/787,574 (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0254600). Although thesedevices are designed for endovascular delivery, the protection devicedisclosed herein can also be used with annuloplasty devices that areimplanted using an open-chest surgical repair instead of a catheterbased approach. The problem of coronary artery compression is alsoencountered with these devices, and the protective device disclosedherein may be used to avoid that problem. Hence the invention disclosedherein is not limited to a protective device for use with cerclageannuloplasty, nor is it limited to use of the device with catheter baseddelivery techniques.

When used with a coronary sinus annuloplasty implant of any kind, theprotective device can be provided as an integral part of the implant oras a separate device suitable for placement between the implant and anunderlying coronary artery to be protected. When provided as an integralpart of the implant, the implant is positioned in the coronary sinus sothat the arch of the support extends over the underlying coronaryartery. In alternative embodiments the protection device is provided asa separate device that is advanced through the catheter system over thetensioning material until it is positioned over the coronary artery tobe protected.

In view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of thisdisclosure may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustratedembodiments are only preferred examples of the disclosure and should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure. We therefore claim allthat comes within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

1. A protection device for protecting a vessel from compression duringcatheter-based mitral annuloplasty in which a circumferentialannuloplasty tension element extends at least partially through acoronary sinus of the heart over an outer surface of a coronary artery,the device comprising: a surgically sterile protection device configuredto pass through a transvascular catheter and fit within the coronarysinus as it passes over the coronary artery, wherein the circumferentialannuloplasty tension element can extend and be placed under tension, theprotection device further comprising a central arch of sufficientrigidity and dimensions to inhibit application of pressure to theunderlying coronary artery when the circumferential annuloplasty tensionelement is placed under tension during mitral annuloplasty.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the central arch is between a proximal endand a distal end of the bridge device, and the proximal and distal endsform stabilizers that generally conform to a wall of the coronary sinusand retain the protection device in position over the coronary artery.3. The device of claim 2, wherein the stabilizers are stabilizing feet.4. The device of claim 1, wherein the central arch bridges a lineardistance at its base of about 0.5 inches to about 0.6 inches.
 5. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the central arch bridges a linear distance atits base of from about 0.52 inches to about 0.55 inches.
 6. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the central arch bridges a linear distance at itsbase of about 0.536 inches.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein thecentral arch is about 0.15 inches to about 0.16 inches high.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7 wherein the central arch is about 0.1545 inches high.9. The device of claim 1, wherein the protection device is tubular, hasa first end and a second end, and has an outer diameter from about 0.04to about 0.05 inches, and an inner diameter from about 0.025 inches toabout 0.035 inches along its entire length.
 10. The device of claim 9,wherein the protection device outer diameter is about 0.045 inches alongits entire length, and the diameter of the inner lumen is from about0.025 inches to about 0.035 inches along its entire length.
 11. Thedevice of claim 9, wherein a distance between the first end and thesecond end is about 0.536 inches, the height of the central portion isabout 0.1545 inches, the outer diameter is about 0.045 inches, and theinner diameter is about 0.030 inches.
 12. The device of claim 1, whereinthe device comprises a shape memory material.
 13. The device of claim12, wherein the shape memory material comprises nitinol.
 14. The deviceof claim 13, wherein the protection device is tubular, has a first endand a second end, and has an outer diameter from about 0.04 to about0.05 inches, and an inner diameter from about 0.025 inches to about0.035 inches along its entire length.
 15. The device of claim 14,wherein the protection device outer diameter is about 0.045 inches alongits entire length, and the diameter of the inner lumen is from about0.025 inches to about 0.035 inches along its entire length.
 16. Thedevice of claim 14, wherein a distance between the first end and thesecond end is about 0.536 inches, the height of the central portion isabout 0.1545 inches, the outer diameter is about 0.045 inches, and theinner diameter is about 0.030 inches.
 17. The device of claim 3, whereinthe device comprises a shape memory material.
 18. The device of claim17, wherein the shape memory material comprises nitinol.
 19. The deviceof claim 18, wherein the protection device is tubular, has a first endand a second end, and has an outer diameter from about 0.04 to about0.05 inches, and an inner diameter from about 0.025 inches to about0.035 inches along its entire length.
 20. The device of claim 19,wherein a distance between the first end and the second end is about0.536 inches, the height of the central portion is about 0.1545 inches,the outer diameter is about 0.045 inches, and the inner diameter isabout 0.030 inches.